Luan River,Wade–Giles romanization Chinese (Pinyin) Luan He or (Wade-Giles romanization) Luan Ho, formerly Lei Shui, or Ju Shui, Pinyin Luan He, Lei Shui, or Ru Shui, river in Hopeh Province, River or (Pinyin and Wade-Giles) Lei Shuiriver in Hebei province, northern China. The Luan River rises in northern Hopeh Hebei and flows northward into the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region through steep gorges; in its headstream it is called the Shandian River. It passes north of the town of To-lun, the ancient Mongol capital Shang-tu, from which its of Shangdu (Kaiping), for which this section of the upper course is named the Shang-tu RiverShangdu River, and the town of Duolun. Its course then swings to the southeast, to join where it is joined by its tributary the Hsiao-luan Xiaoluan River. It is only below this point that it is properly named the Luan River. It The Luan then flows southeastward across the mountains in the of northeast of Hopeh. In the region of Ch’eng-te Hebei. Near Chengde (Jehol) it is joined by the Je River, as well as by the Niu and Pao Re, Liu, and Bao rivers. It passes through the Great Wall of China at Hsi-feng K’ou Xifengkou and then flows onto into the eastern fringes of the North China Plain. In its lower course it receives the Che Qinglong Riverand Ch’ing-lung River. From Lo-t’ing Leting it divides into a number of distributaries, discharging into the Bo Hai (Gulf of Chihli) through a delta some 30 miles (50 km) wide. The Luan River is 545 miles (877 km) long and flows through an area of 17,220 square miles (44,600 square km). In ancient times the Luan was called the Ru (Ju) River.

The river’s upper stream is precipitous, with many rapids. Below Ch’eng-teChengde, however, it is navigable for small craft during the summer. Because of this it was of considerable importance important during earlier times as the only water route into the Ch’eng-te Chengde region for military supplies, and it was also used as a trade route from parts of Hopeh Hebei (which were then in the former province of Zhili, or Chihli) to the regions beyond the Great Wall. Because of steep hills and deep ravines at its upper reaches, the river overflows its banks during the rainy season. The flow of water is much - reduced in winter, and for some months the river is icebound. The whole of its Its upper basin, which was extensively forest-covered until the 19th century, has suffered severely from soil erosion caused by deforestation and unsuitable methods of cultivation.

The Luan River project diverts river water into the Ch’iu-chuang reservoir of the Huan-hsiang River. The project has provided for improved water supply Several reservoir and canal projects have been finished along the Luan River since the 1950s. These projects have increased the supply of water for industrial and agricultural use and increased electricity augmented hydroelectric output. At the same time, capacity for flood-control has capabilities have been enhanced.